Nearly 700 students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business join more than 3,700 graduates receiving degrees during commencement exercises May 16-17 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett will preside over the ceremonies.

Graduate and doctoral students participate in the ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, May 16. The Saturday, May 17, ceremony at 9 a.m. honors undergraduate degree recipients from the College of Business, as well as the colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Architecture, Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, and Public Affairs and Community Service. Doors open to the public at 1:30 p.m. May 16 and 7:30 a.m. May 17.

“I am thrilled to congratulate every graduate and celebrate what the class of 2025 accomplished during their time with the College of Business. As alumni, we know they will continue to drive discovery, create opportunity and lead the future of business—whether in Nebraska or around the world,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance.

Among those earning a bachelor's degree is Carolina Barraza, accounting major from Courtland, Kansas. She said graduating from Nebraska means fulfilling a dream rooted in resilience, hard work and hope.

“As the first in my family to graduate from a university after immigrating from Mexico, this milestone represents more than a degree. It’s a testament to the journey that brought me here. Nebraska has given me more than an education; it’s challenged me, shaped me, and empowered me through opportunities to lead, serve, and grow through strengths coaching in the Clifton Strengths Institute and tutoring in the Teaching and Learning Center."

Barraza will work in Ireland this summer as a tax intern through KPMG’s Global Internship Program before returning to Nebraska to complete her Master of Professional Accountancy. She plans to take the CPA exams and begin her full-time career as a tax associate at KPMG in Lincoln.

Graduates earning Master of Business Administration degrees also reflected on the sense of connection they built, even in an online program.

Garrett Graff, MBA graduate from Windsor, Colorado, now living in Huntsville, Alabama, said the community and strengths-based leadership at Nebraska exceeded his expectations.

“What pleasantly surprised me about the University of Nebraska–Lincoln was how connected and supported I felt, even from a distance. Even without being on campus, the sense of community, the genuine care from professors and the strong Husker pride made it easy to feel like I was part of something special.”

Recent graduates can also take advantage of the Nebraska Graduate Advantage Program (GAP), which helps reduce possible financial barriers for students seeking to enhance their skills and employability through graduate education. GAP is available to graduates of the University of Nebraska system.

"We launched the Nebraska Graduate Advantage Program to offer 15% savings in graduate tuition for our online Master of Science in Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management programs. The savings apply to those who earned their bachelor's degree from UNK, UNL and UNO in the last five years with a GPA of 3.2 or higher," said Farrell. "This opportunity helps meet the workforce needs in Nebraska and nationwide for professionals with in-demand technical skills."

Both commencement ceremonies will stream live online. For more details or to watch the ceremonies, visit: https://commencement.unl.edu.

2025 MAY BUSINESS GRADUATES

Published: May 15, 2025